Just the Facts Immigration in the United States is a complex issue with diverse perspectives. As of 2021, immigrants comprised almost 14% of the U.S. population, with Mexico being the most common country of origin. The undocumented population was estimated to be about eleven million in 2019, with recent data being difficult to collect due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The legal immigration system allowed over 740,000 individuals legal permanent residency in FY2021, mainly based on family reunification, employment-based preferences, refugees, diversity, and asylees​​.

People Who Say Yes Critics of illegal immigration argue that it imposes significant costs on American taxpayers. A study by the Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR) estimates the net cost of illegal immigration at the federal, state, and local levels to be at least $150.7 billion in 2023. This figure is arrived at by subtracting the tax revenue paid by illegal aliens from the gross negative economic impact. They also claim that illegal aliens, a large number of whom work in the underground economy, frequently avoid paying income tax and receive a net cash profit through refundable tax credit programs​​​​​​. The total fiscal burden of illegal immigration on state taxpayers has reached approximately $115.6 billion. Critics argue that the taxes paid by illegal aliens fall far short of covering the costs of the services they consume, and the wage depression inflicted on local labor markets has far-reaching fiscal implications​​.

People Who Say No On the other hand, proponents of immigration argue that it generally has more positive effects on the economy than negative ones. Migrants, divided into low-skilled and high-skilled workers, contribute to different sectors of the economy. High-skilled workers pay taxes and generate demand for more expensive products and services, speeding up innovation. Low-skilled workers fill jobs in sectors that experience labor shortages, such as agriculture, nursing homes, child care, and cleaning services. This not only meets the demand for these services but also frees up high-skilled workers to participate more in the labor market. Furthermore, immigrants are more mobile and willing to relocate for jobs, aiding in filling employment gaps across the country. Legal immigration is seen as beneficial for both the U.S. and immigrants, with their wages increasing upon gaining legal status, enabling them to pay taxes and invest in further skills or education​​​​.

The complexity of the immigration issue in the U.S. is compounded by a polarized political climate, where anti-immigration rhetoric has become a tool for energizing voters. Immigration policy discussions often focus on border security and the pathway to citizenship for immigrants, with strong differences of opinion between Republican and Democratic lawmakers​​​​.

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